Basic Tips On Comic Book Collecting

I have been collecting and reading comics for most of my life. In the 1980s, I turned my hobby into a part-time business. Buying, trading, and selling comics. Which fit in with my collecting and selling of antiques. I have done well with this business venture. Today, I would like to share some tips with you.

1. It is essential to preorder books (add to your pull list) chiefly for indies. This gives the publisher an opinion on how many books to print. Say the total order for all LCS is 15,000, the publisher may only publish 20,000. That is it. If it takes off, the demand may be higher than the supply. This is why some books go to a second or third printing. 
2. You need to know the FOC (Final Order Cutoff) date. This ensures the books will be added to your Pull Box. 
3. You can buy a Previews Book at some LCS, you may ask to see the shop's copy of Previews before placing your order, and sometimes, the shop has an advance copy of a book that they will let you see. Don't be afraid to ask.
4. Please, be sure to pick up your pull boxes. There is a no return policy between the LCS and the publisher. Meaning, the LCS can become overstocked. The unclaimed merchandise can sit around in storage, taking up space. Meanwhile, the LCS has lost money on the unclaimed merchandise. It costs them money to order your stuff. When merchandise goes unclaimed, the shop will try to sell it. Often at a reduced price to clear inventory. Some shops will sell the stock in bulk at a reduced price as well.

You can find bargains at outlet stores, flea markets, yard sales, and auctions. You need to be actively searching. With a little know-how, you can build your collection. You can increase your acquisitions into one that has real profit. 

Learn how to grade books, and use the Overstreet Price Guide to know their value. I must warn you, collecting comics can be costly. You may lose money. Some books may take years to increase their profit. While some will never reach their ORV [Original Retail Value]. As with any investment, you need to educate yourself before investing. Comic Book Collecting is much more challenging than when I began back in the 1980s. But it's enjoyable, and still earning me a profit. [On some books that is].

I have books that have little monetary value. But the sentimental value is what is relevant. 

Thank you for reading.

Follow me on Twitter @budkelly3.

NOTICE: I do not endorse any investments nor responsible for any gain or loses. It is up to the individual and all decisions are theirs and bear sole responsibility for those choices.